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Man accused of selling painkillers to undercover police officer

A local man is accused of trying to sell a large amount of painkillers to an undercover officer. Robert Green, 74, has never been in jail before, but a prosecutor said he may never get out of jail now. Dan Billow (@DanBillowWESH) has the story.

A local man is accused of trying to sell a large amount of painkillers to an undercover officer.

Robert Green, 74, has never been in jail before, but a prosecutor said he may never get out of jail now.

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"If we combine the drugs that he sold with the drugs that were found in his house, if the combined weight comes up to a certain amount, he faces a potential 25-year minimum mandatory," said prosecutor Gary Beatty.

An undercover officer said he bought oxycodone and hydrocodone from Green at his home on the golf course in upscale Suntree.

In a report, the officer said he bought 61 pills. Later, the report said, Green had a total of 859 pills, including 679 oxycodone pills and 180 hydrocodone pills. The weight of the oxycodone adds up to well over the limit that requires a 25-year sentence for Green, if convicted.

"This amount of pills is a lot of pills to have. Obviously, it's more pills than would be used for personal use," Beatty said.

Neighbors in the golf course community said they're shocked that a guy they know as Bob is suspected of selling drugs. But agents said word was out on the streets, and that the undercover officer who came to the house was introduced to Green as an interested buyer. The alleged transaction was quickly made, and now, investigators said they hope to find out where he got them, which could lead to more arrests.